In most video games, players embody human characters, which makes sense given video games are made by humans. This is one of the reasons it is so novel to get to play as a non-human in video games, particularly when that character is an animal. Running around and causing havoc becomes instantly more appealing when players are waddling around as a duck or frolicking through fields as a goat.
Humans are able to watch animals go about their lives every day and see how they outwardly react to the world around them, but it is rare to get to look inside their minds and see what they might be thinking and feeling. That is what makes the novelty of a game where players play as an animal so fun and interesting. Video games which let gamers play as an animal give players the opportunity to separate themselves from the experience and enjoy something completely new.
10 Stray
In Stray the player controls a stray cat who has gotten separated from their feline friends. As the lost cat explores the unusual and frightening world they have fallen into they make a new friend and help make the lives of residents of this strange world a little bit brighter. Stray is a game of exploration and stealth and, being a cat, players are able to run around and find themselves in some unique situations that wouldn't be possible if they were playing as any other creature.
From sleeping in small cubbyholes, knocking over paint tins and causing trouble, Stray is the perfect cat simulator alongside a heartwarming story about friendship, and is ideal for any cat lover who has ever wondered what goes on in the mind of their cat companions.
9 Untitled Goose Game
Geese are well known for being troublesome animals and Untitled Goose Game captures the bird's mischievous nature perfectly. Players run around as the titular goose, causing havoc and ruining the days of unsuspecting townsfolk who are going about their day in a peaceful village.
There is no real narrative storyline in Untitled Goose Game. Instead, players can enjoy the simple graphics and gameplay, moving through different areas and finding new ways to harass the humans in order to complete the items on their to-do list. While this is a very short game, the endless ways players can cause trouble gives Untitled Goose Game plenty of replayability.
8 Later Alligator
Set in Alligator New York City, Later Alligator follows a private investigator who is tasked with helping Pat the Alligator: a reptile at the center of a conspiracy that could bring down the scariest alligator family in the city. As games which let players play as animals go, Later Alligator isn't the most realistic one, but it is charming to be able to put themselves in the shoes of the PI and imagine what life would be like in this reptilian version of New York.
While Later Alligator has a gorgeous hand drawn art style and some fun mini-games to play, the real joy comes from speaking to the various reptiles which occupy the city. There are over 100 different alligators to speak to.
7 Octodad: Dadliest Catch
In Octodad: Dadliest Catch players control a perfectly normal husband and father, going about his usual chores and caring for his family. Except, he is actually an octopus and his limbs are boneless tentacles that wreak havoc when attempting even the simplest of tasks.
Described as a game of destruction, deception, and fatherhood, Octodad: Dadliest Catch is really about fitting in when feeling like an outsider. It is a game full of laughter and players finding themselves in strange places due to the unusual physics of the game. Despite this, there is a charming side to the game that will mean players will likely end the game with a smile on their face.
6 Frog Detective 1, 2, & 3
Frog Detective is a self-explanatory game series about a frog who is also a detective. Acting as the Frog Detective themselves, players are given a mystery they need to solve: whether it is finding a ghost that has been creeping around an island for weeks, or tracking down the person who destroyed a welcome party for an invisible wizard.
There are three Frog Detective games, each one in a different setting and all of which are very short games to run through. From a haunted island to Cowboy County, each installment in the series brings something new to explore. Frog Detective is a charming franchise, with low stakes and a new cast of characters in every game.
5 Goat Simulator
Goat Simulator is a classic animal sim and one of the first games that springs to mind for many gamers when thinking about playing as an animal. Goat Simulator is a third-person exploration game where players control a goat wandering through a suburban landscape and completing tasks.
Goat Simulator was initially popularized by its game breaking bugs and bizarre situations players can get into with their strong jumps and sticky tongue. The game has a unique physics engine and intentionally dumb AI that allows for some wacky situations to occur.
4 Everdream Valley
Everdream Valley is a unique farming sim that lets players experience all faucets of farm life, including being an animal. The game follows a child helping their grandparents repair and clean up their farm while visiting them. By day players help tend to the farm, bringing in animals, growing crops and repairing damaged fences and farm buildings. By night, players can take control of their farm animals through dream sequences.
After unlocking the ability to control the farm animals through dreams, Everdream Valley lets players use the animals' unique abilities to complete mini-games and challenges which benefit the farm the next day.
3 Night In The Woods
Night In The Woods follows college drop-out and cat, Mae Borowski, as she returns home to reconnect with her old life and friends. Alongside a cigarette-smoking crocodile, a hyperactive fox and his boyfriend, a bear, Mae explores her hometown of Possum Springs and is faced with the changes that have occurred while she's been gone.
A walking sim with a focus on exploration and meeting people, Night In The Woods does a brilliant job of capturing the mysteries of life in a creative and comedic way. Somehow, seeing a story about growing up and coming to terms with how becoming an adult changes the way players interact with the world is easier to digest when it is told by quirky, teenage animals.
2 Lil Gator Game
Lil Gator Game is an adorable adventure game where players take control of a cute alligator exploring the world and making friends. Players can climb, swim, glide and slide around the map, looking for different characters to befriend at the tops of mountains and in the middle of forests.
Full of childlike whimsy and built around having a relaxing atmosphere, Lil Gator Game offers players a platform for self-exploration with customization for their crocodile and the ability to grow and learn from encountering friends and helping with their problems.
1 Teacup
Teacup is a short narrative adventure game which follows a sweet, animated frog called Teacup as she goes on an adventure to stock up on tea before her tea party. Players are given a list of ingredients they need to gather, which can be picked up in any order, and they can meet various characters who will help them on their journey in exchange for small favors.
Teacup the frog is a shy and introverted amphibian who loves reading and tea, hosting parties to make herself socialize. Teacup is a beautifully designed game which carefully and tactfully explores social anxiety. It only makes sense that a tiny frog would be scared of going out into the big, unknown world.